Generic Description:

Appearance: Lantern style clock on four-legged stand.  Originally all Dai-dokei would have had a covered hood of a wood frame with silk panelling – however most hoods are now missing.

Period: Early and Middle, although produced through to the Late period.

Escapement:  Single and double foliot, however a few very late examples had balance springs.

Power Source:   Lead weight

Construction:    Dai-dokei have the clock movement placed on an open four-legged stand, and dials would have been at eye level for people seated on the tatami floor mats.  They were located in the tokonoma (alcove) of the Japanese living room.  Stands were ornate and decorative.  Large versions of the Dai-dokei were also made for use mainly in public places such as castles, corridors and entrance halls.

Dai-dokei utilise the same style lantern Wadokei as others in this Category. Lantern Wadokei were generally constructed within frames of square top and bottom plates, plus square or rectangular corner pillars.  Early clocks were wholly of iron.  Middle period examples had brass side plates.

Background to above Wadokei

Purchased from W. F. Bruce, Lewes, England, 2012, in original full working condition – except weights which were of later European type. From the estate of a clock collector.

Signed on front right iron pillar ‘Kiyo Shige living Machi Yorozu Province of Tsu Ise 茂清住町万津伊勢’

Workings made entirely of iron with square top and bottom plates with four rectangular corner columns.  Brass front, side and rear panels engraved with foliage designs.  Twin foliots and deep domed cast bell, The clock sits on a carved Japanese Ash stand.  Traditional Edo Period strike of hours and half-hours. Alarm with ‘foliot style’ hammers and single verge escapement.  Fixed lacquered black dial with gold plated chapter ring of Japanese Zodiac characters and numbers. Rotating brass hand.

Date: Circa. 1830 from records of other clocks by this maker – including one in the Seiko Museum, Ginza, Tokyo.

Restoration of above Wadokei

The only restoration required for the Wadokei was replacement of Going, Strike and Alarm Weights and Counter-Weights. These were made from standard replacement longcase lead weights turned to adopt a period Wadokei style. For decoration, they were engraved with a floral pattern similar to that of the Wadokei siode plates, plus the makers signature in Kanji characters.